This document discusses the phenomenon of reverse culture shock experienced by students returning from study abroad programs. It provides examples from interviews with three University of Denver students on the aspects of American culture that surprised them or took adjustment to readjust to after living abroad, such as fast restaurant service, large portion sizes, casual clothing, and an abundance of product options. The students also noted differences in how people dress, levels of friendliness, and paying for services like water. Resources are available through the university to help students cope with reverse culture shock.

1. Studying
abroad
provides
students
with
the
opportunity
of
cultural
enrichment
and
exposure
to
a
new
country.
On
the
University
of
Denver’s
study
abroad
site,
they
state
“the
best
way
to
understand
another
culture
is
to
experience
it.”
Consequently,
many
study
abroad
students
feel
as
if
they
have
changed
from
their
8me
away.
Returnees
must
re-­‐acclimate
themselves
to
their
home
life
and
become
accustomed
to
the
norms.
However,
along
the
way,
these
students
may
find
certain
aspects
completely
different
from
their
life
while
abroad.
This
is
something
that
is
called
reverse
culture
shock.

2. Elise
Elder,
DU
Junior
who
studied
abroad
in
Paris,
said
she
experienced
reverse
culture
shock
when
she
made
her
first
trip
to
the
mall
aNer
coming
back
from
Europe.
“I
felt
overwhelmed
when
I
went
to
the
mall
because
of
all
the
English
and
people,”
Elder
said.

3. While
abroad,
Elder
said
that
she
thought
Parisians
dressed
beQer
than
Americans
did.
She
also
stated
that
“Parisians
like
to
look
their
best
all
the
8me
and
they
wear
dark
colors.”
One
of
the
first
things
Elder
observed
when
coming
home
was
the
casual
clothing.
Also
while
shopping,
she
couldn’t
help
but
no8ce
the
bright
clothing
found
in
most
stores

4. Bria
Whitmore,
DU
Junior
who
studied
abroad
in
Salamanca,
observed
that
everyone
in
Spain
dresses
up.
However,
she
would
s8ll
wear
her
sweats
everyday,
even
though
people
stared.
“I
was
happy
to
be
back
because
I
could
wear
my
sweats
and
Uggs
and
no
one
would
care,”
Whitmore
said.

5. Clare
King,
DU
Junior
who
studied
abroad
in
Provence,
was
accustomed
to
the
slow
service
she
received
while
abroad.
So
when
she
came
back
to
America,
she
was
surprised
at
how
quick
the
service
was
in
restaurants.
“In
the
beginning
I
felt
rushed
but
then
it
was
nice
too
because
the
waiters
were
actually
being
aQen8ve,”
King
said.

6. The
por8on
sizes
in
America
tend
to
be
bigger
than
what
it
is
in
Europe.
ANer
spending
8me
in
Europe,
students
may
oNen
feel
overwhelmed
with
the
large
por8on
sizes
in
America.
Pictured
above
is
a
typical
por8on
size
in
Europe.

7. King
and
Whitmore
both
said
that
going
to
the
grocery
store
was
exci8ng
because
of
all
the
op8ons
that
are
available.
“America
has
so
many
different
types
of
cereal.
I
was
used
to
only
having
three
op8ons
in
Spain,”
Whitmore
said.

8. Paying
for
tap
water
is
something
that
does
not
happen
oNen
in
America.
Yet
it
is
something
that
is
common
for
students
while
abroad.
When
Whitmore
returned
to
America,
she
was
excited
and
thankful
for
free
water.
“I
forgot
what
it’s
like
to
have
something
for
free,”
Whitmore
said.

9. Elder,
King,
and
Whitmore
all
agreed
that
Americans
are
nicer
than
Europeans.
“Americans
are
much
more
friendly”
and
the
French
can
be
“snooty
and
exclusive,”
King
said.
She
and
Whitmore
also
said
they
missed
hugging
and
did
not
like
the
tradi8onal
gree8ng
of
cheek
kissing.
However,
Elder
said
she
“got
used
to
it”
although
she
was
uncomfortable
with
it
at
first.

10. On
DU’s
Study
Abroad
website,
they
post
links
about
reverse
culture
shock
and
how
students
can
deal
with
it.

11. Whitmore
said
that
she
is
apart
of
a
Facebook
group
where
she
keeps
in
touch
with
her
friends
from
abroad.
Through
this
group,
Whitmore
is
able
to
talk
with
them
and
see
how
they
are
adjus8ng
back
home.
“We
help
each
other
out
as
much
as
we
can,”
Whitmore
said.

12. King
said
she
thought
she
was
going
to
experience
reverse
culture
shock
much
more
than
what
she
actually
did.
But
from
the
shock
that
she
did
experience,
she
said
she
“talked
to
her
parents
and
they
helped
[her]
adjust.”
King’s
main
idea
behind
re-­‐acclima8ng
herself
was
having
pa8ence
to
“remember
how
things
used
to
be,”
she
said.